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Jérémie Lusseau / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Stories of survivors

SOS MEDITERRANEE has rescued more than 42,700 people since 2016. 

From an eight-year-old who walked alone from Mali to a Lebanese family with three young children, these are the stories of those rescued. Their harrowing and heartbreaking tales shed a light on the dire humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean.  

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Testimony

Djema

It’s not easy in Libya. I stayed four years. You know when you move in the street, you are not safe.

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Johanna de Tessières

Testimony

Ibrahima

Ibrahima was one of the 25 survivors rescued on the 13th of March after spending seven days at sea. Around 60 people on his boat perished during the journey.

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Illustration by Marie-Morgane Adatte, editions Antipodes

Testimony

Ousman

Ousman* was arbitrarily detained 43 days in Libya after being intercepted at sea. At only 16 years old, he already faced extreme hardships. The young boy has been travelling alone since he is 14....
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Testimony

Neba

Neba* was rescued during the night, on the 27th of December 2022. He spent 24 hours on an overcrowded rubber boat with 112 other people. The SOS MEDITERRANEE team searched for hours in the dark...
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Testimony

Samuel

Samuel*, 17 years old, was rescued on June 26, 2022, by the Ocean Viking from a boat in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region. After a first attempt to flee Libya, he was intercepted by…

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Testimony

Kader

TRIGGER WARNING: This testimony depicts extreme scenes of violence, including acts of torture.    Kader*, from Ivory coast, was one of the 295 people rescued by the team of the Ocean Viking...
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